Chapter 76: Chapter 76

For a moment, Ron’s heart was incredibly complicated, but no matter what, at least he felt happy right now that Morris might have already achieved the Senior rank.

After all, the territory was currently facing a crisis. Having a Senior Knight like Morris around meant that, at the very least, they could maintain the situation and buy more time for others to advance.

Facing Ron’s questioning, Morris no longer beat around the bush. Since he had already dropped hints, he didn’t mind saying one more sentence:

“Yes, I have already achieved the Senior Knight rank.”

However, Morris silently added a sentence in his heart. Because he had been caught in the enemy’s trap in the south earlier, his Life Seed had been scattered, and his will had suffered a backlash; he was temporarily unable to demonstrate the prowess of a Senior Knight.

Otherwise, he would have really liked to demonstrate it right in front of Ron.

“By the way, don’t reveal this matter to anyone else for the time being, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble. It will be fine after a while.”

“Is the Instructor worried that it will cause trouble if the cultists find out?”

Ron thought of this possibility first, but Morris didn’t have him keep it a secret for this reason: “You could say that. Anyway, just don’t reveal it to anyone else for now.”

“I understand. I won’t tell anyone else.”

“Mhm, then do you still want to reject these potions? You must understand that for a Senior Knight, a mere ten vials of Ignition Potion is no burden at all.”

“Yes, I accept. Thank you, Instructor.”

“Go on back!”

Saying that, Morris prepared to mount his horse, but Ron suddenly called out to him, “Wait, Instructor, I still have a question I’d like to ask you!”

Morris paused his movements, then asked, “What question? Speak!”

“It’s about today when Young Master Waynes came to see us. The things he said to me, my companions seemed to not hear at all. What’s going on?”

“Ah…”

Morris hadn’t expected Ron to ask this question. He originally thought the other party would inquire about how the situation outside was right now!

As for this current question, Morris considered it for a moment and decided not to hide it. After all, since he had already let Ron know the secret of the Senior rank, there was no need to conceal such a minor issue. It was just that the matter involved Waynes and was somewhat sensitive.

But this too was a minor issue. Once Ron became a Formal Knight, even if he didn’t say it, others would.

“The situation you mentioned might seem very magical to you, but when you become a Formal Knight…”

Saying this, Morris deliberately paused, a smile curling his lips, before continuing: “You will still find it very magical. However, you don’t need to worry about it. That is actually the Bloodline Ability of an Intermediate Knight.”

“Bloodline Ability?” This was Ron’s first time hearing of such a thing.

“What do you think is the end point of a Knight? The legendary Grand Knight? No, I tell you, actually, for an ordinary person, condensing a Life Seed is already the end of everything!”

Condensing a Life Seed made one a Junior Knight, or a newly promoted Knight. Ron was no stranger to this.

And Morris’s explanation continued: “Intermediate Knights involve bloodlines. Some people innately possess Transcendent Bloodlines; even if they haven’t manifested previously, they will manifest at this stage. Young Master Waynes is exactly such a person!”

“What about ordinary people? Instructor, haven’t you already achieved the Senior rank? Could it be that you don’t have a Transcendent Bloodline either?” Ron asked impatiently.

This question was critical, because it also concerned his subsequent advancement. If the original “Ron” didn’t have a Transcendent Bloodline, would he be stuck dead at the Junior Knight stage?

“It seems you’ve realized the crux of the problem!”

Morris smiled, also noticing the trace of unwillingness revealed in Ron’s eyes. He himself had actually been the same back then. Transcendent Bloodlines were innate; even if one was unwilling, what was the use?

He had indeed heard that over in the Royal Capital, there existed a Bloodline Inheritance Ritual that could grant a Transcendent Bloodline to an ordinary person who lacked one, but the price was the death of another person who possessed a Transcendent Bloodline.

He couldn’t afford such a ritual, nor was he willing to use it, so he chose another path, a path chosen by the vast majority of ordinary people without Transcendent Bloodlines.

“Where do you think Transcendent Bloodlines come from?” Morris asked again.

“Passed down from ancestors?”

“Then how did your ancestors’ Transcendent Bloodlines come about? When this question is traced to the end, there must be a source, right?”

“This…”

Only now did Ron realize that Morris actually wanted to reveal the secret of Transcendent Bloodlines to him. At this moment, he suddenly felt a bit uneasy, but his thirst for the path ahead drove him to keep pressing:

“Could the original source of Transcendent Bloodlines be the Intermediate Knight stage?”

“No.”

Morris shook his head and said, “The source of Transcendent Bloodlines is far too ancient. Currently, there are many conjectures, such as wizards, or certain transcendent creatures. But there is one point that no one can deny, and that is:

“Knights without a Transcendent Bloodline, after breaking their limits a second time, can pass down a portion of their abilities and talents to their descendants.

“If this ability and talent are exceedingly powerful, so powerful that they surpass the vast majority of Transcendent Bloodlines, could you still say that this Knight’s bloodline is not a Transcendent Bloodline?”

Hearing these words, Ron couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. There really was a path to transcendence for mortal bodies. He then continued to ask, “Then does breaking limits a second time make one an Intermediate Knight? How does one cultivate their bloodline?”

“Breaking limits a second time does not equate to being an Intermediate Knight. It merely provides the foundation to unearth the power of your bloodline. At this stage, if you possess a Transcendent Bloodline, you will easily make it through. If you do not possess a Transcendent Bloodline, then you will need to forge your own bloodline!”

Looking at Ron’s thirst for knowledge, Morris felt exceedingly gratified in his heart, but at the same time, a trace of worry flashed through his mind. In this world, liking to seek knowledge was not necessarily a good thing!

Facing Ron’s resolute gaze, Morris continued:

“As for how to cultivate your bloodline, you will have some comprehensions of your own when the time comes. What suits you is the best; no matter how much others say, it might not suit you. However, there is one Bloodline Ability that is quite suitable for you.”

“What Ability?”

“The Extreme Cold Ability brought about by the Breathing Technique.”

Saying so, Morris took off his armored gauntlet and grasped Ron’s wrist. In the next moment, Ron felt as if his wrist was being burned by fire, but judging from the ice forming on the surface of his skin, this was clearly extreme cold.

This was Ron’s first time seeing Morris display such an ability, and he couldn’t help his curiosity: “Could it be that all Intermediate Knights who use the Ice Breathing Technique can learn this?”

“That’s not entirely the case. Some people can, at most, only make water slightly cooler. Those who can reach my level, currently in the territory, apart from me, are only Commander Corbett.”

“Not even Young Master Waynes?” Ron asked again.

“That I don’t know. In any case, I’ve never seen him display it.”

To prevent Ron from focusing too much on Bloodline Abilities and instead neglecting himself, Morris reminded him, “Bloodline Abilities are merely a manifestation of one’s own strength, capable of amplifying your inherent abilities. If you yourself are not strong enough, even if you are given a Bloodline Ability, you won’t be able to use it, or won’t use it well.

“You must forever remember that as Knights, our bodies and our will are the most important. Bloodline Abilities are merely by-products of the body. You absolutely must not confuse the primary with the secondary.”